Adjustable angle shelf support



Sept. 29, 1959 R. J. BELLON ETAL 2,906,486

ADJUSTABLE ANGLE SHELF SUPPORT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8. 1953 1 b [B 11011 am] fi k/ n r1 ire inane! IN V EN TORS Sept. 29, 1959 R. J. BELLON ETA!- 2,905,435

ADJUSTABLE 'ANGLE SHELF SUPPORT Filed se t. 8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllllld -u-|.

Fez/Joli v1.56 [Ion and flu; in Z l z'a l'nand INVENTORS Sept. 29, 1959 R. J. BELLON E L ADJUSTABLE ANGLE SHELF SUPPORT Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 8. 1953 INVENTORS United States Pate O 1 2,906,486 ADJUSTABLE ANGLE SHELF SUPPORT F Ralph J. Bellon, Chicago, and Irwin J. Ferdinand, Glencoe, Ill., assignors to S. A. l-lirsh Manufacturing Co., vSkokie, III., a corporation of Illinois Application September 8, 1953, Serial No. 378,792 7 Claims. (Cl. 248- 242) This invention relates to a shelving device, and more particularly, to display shelving, shelf supports'and fastenings which can be built, changed or dismantled quickly, and easily altered with respect to height and levelness or inclination of the shelves, without. the necessity of any tools. A shelving device of this general character has been described in our copending application United States Serial No. 291,258, filed June 2, 1952, now Patent No. 2,767,950, 'of which the present application isa continuation-in-part, while at the same time disclosing'a num' ber of modifications and improvements in the previously disclosed shelving device. 1

It is a general object of this invention to provide shelv: ing devices of the type indicated which have incorporated therein means for making fine adjustments in the levelness or inclination of the display shelves, especially in combination with other means for making larger adjustments of this kind. It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved means in a shelving device of the character described for securing shelf members, especially wooden shelves, to support brackets and accomplishing same in a way that self-tightens the assembly in a direction opposing inadvertent release. In this connection, it is another object to provide means for attaching the shelf members to the support brackets which can be slidably positioned on the brackets and releasably locked by finger manipulation in selected positions thereon.

Still another object is to provide a means for pivotally mounting the support brackets on the upright members of the shelving device with the particular object of adapting said means to releasably lock the bracket members inpivo-tal engagement with the uprights, said means, how ever, being easily operable with or without a snap type action while at the same time providing the desired looking feature to prevent accidental separation of the members. Another general object is to provide means for accomplishing the objects just stated which cooperated to provide a construction permitting the shelving device to be handled readily by unskilled persons without requiring the use of tools. Further objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The shelving device of this invention is shown in illustrative embodiments in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an island display assembly constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2, a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing an attachment member secured to the bottom of a wooden shelf; Fig. 3, a fragmentary side view showing a shelf bracket mounted on an upright; Fig. 4, a sectional plan view of the means for pivotally connecting the shelf bracket members to the upright taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the connecting pin in retracted position for engagement or disengagement of the bracket from the upright; Fig. 6, a fragmentary Patented Sept. 29,

of the present invention which is particularly adapted for an island type display. In this embodiment, upright members 10 are provided which have a forwardly-extending attachment flange 11 provided with a plurality of vertically-spaced apertures 12. Uprights 10 are secured together by means of cross-braces 13, and have their bottom ends connected to foot members 14. The cross-braces are secured at their topsto the uprights and at their bottom ends slidably engage the uprights as described in further detail later. A plurality of wooden shelves 15 are supported in forwardly-extendingrelation to uprights 10 by means of the support brackets which include a forwardlyextending support arm 16 and an upwardly and forwardlyextending brace 17.

As seen more clearly in Figs. 3 to 5, both support arm 16 and brace 17 of each shelf bracket are pivotally mounted on the upright 10. In the illustration given,

this is accomplished by means of pins 18 and 19 extend,-

ing through spaced apertures 12 in the flange 11 of the upright as will be further described hereinafter.

A pivot pin 29 extends through the outer end portion of brace 17 as well as through the outer end portion of support arm 16 to pivotally interconnect these members. As seen in Figs. 3 to 5, support arm 16 is U-shaped in cross-section providing a channel 16a bounded by walls 16b'and 16c. In each wall adjacent the outerend of the support arm is provided oppositely-disposed longitudinally extending'slots'Zl, which slots slidably receive pin 20 and are arranged so. that the inclination of arm 16 can be varied by sliding pin 24) along slots 21.

There is also preferably provided means for selectively adjusting the position of pivot pin 20 in slots 21. In the to extend beyond the side walls of support arm 16 while being received within the oppositely-disposed slots 24' thereof, so as to prevent longitudinal movement of screw 22 while it is being rotated by means of head 23. The face end of the head 23 is preferably smoothly rounded to provide frictionless end thrust support against the front edges of the slot 24.

In the illustration given, brace 17 is also U-shaped in cross-section and provides at its upper end spaced ears 25 which are provided with aligned apertures pivotally detail view of the key-shaped support arm slot cooperat- I Looking first at Fig. 1, there is shown an embodiment receiving the outer ends of pin 20 while straddlingthe support arm 16. I

The shelf support brackets can be conveniently assembled by positioning the apertures in ears 25 of brace 17 in alignment with slots 21 of support arm 16. Pivot pin 20 is then inserted through the apertures and slots, and turned so that the transverse, internally-threaded opening therethrough is facing toward the open top of the channel between the 'walls 16!; and of support arm 16. Screw 22 is then inserted within the transverse opening of pivot pin 20. -If desired, this can be facilitated by providing screw 22 with a smooth orturneddown end portion 22a, which will permit this pin to be rapidly advanced to the desired position within pivot pin 20. While being inserted screw 22 can extend up-. wardly, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 12, until rotated into engagement with pivot pin 20 after which it is then turned downwardly with the head entering the slots 24 until it reaches its normal operating position, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 12. The inclination or levelness of support arm 16 can then be finally adjusted by manually rotating head 23 of threaded pin 22. In addition, larger adjustments in the position of support arm 16 can be made by varying the point of connection of either support arm 16 or brace 17 to upright 10.

In another of its phases, this invention is concerned with the means for attaching the shelves 15 to the shelf brackets, and particularly with the way in which this means cooperated with the inclination adjustment means just described; One embodiment. of such. an. attach,- ment means is illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Such embodiments are adapted for use in combination with the shelving structure illustrated in Fig. 1, or a similar shelving structure, having uprights with shelf brackets mounted thereon which provide outwardly-extending support arms having laterally-extending flanges, such as flanges 26 of support arm 16. The attachment member is secured to the underside of the shelf member, such as wooden shelves 15 and provides a flange slidably engaging the underside of one of the support arm flanges so that the attachment'member can be moved along the support arm. There is also preferably provided means for releasably locking. the attachment member to the support arm.

In the specific embodiment of Fig. 2, there is provided a plate 27 having downwardly and inwardlyturned flanges 28 adapted to engage the undersides of support arm flanges 26. In other words, this attachment member, designated generally by the number 29, is designed so that it can be slidably received on support arm 16 with the underside of plate 27 resting on the top thereof, and flange portions 28 extending to positions beneath support arm flanges 26. Plate 27 also provides upwardly-struck outwardly-turned slightly diverging prongs 30 which provide means for securing plate 27 to the underside of a wooden shelf 15, as illustrated in Fig. 2. At its outer end, plate 27 also provides a spring tongue 31 having a downwardly-turned end portion 32, which can be positioned above and partly within the top of slots 24, thereby locking the attachment member in a predetermined position on support arm 16 and, at the same time, closing slots 24 so that the head 23 of threaded pin 22 is held within the slots.

As is already indicated, in another of its aspects this invention is concerned with means for pivotally connecting the shelf brackets to the uprights. One preferred means is illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 of the drawings. This means will be discussed in connection with its use on support arm 16, but it will be understood that the discussion also applies to brace 17, as illustrated in Fig. 3. In the illustration given, this means comprises a leaf spring 42 mounted on a side of support arm,16, for example, on side wall 160. Preferably, the outer end of spring 42 is fixedly secured to arm 16, as by rivet 43, with the rest of the spring being free to flex away from the side of the arm, as illustrated in Fig. 5. In the illustration given, the inner end of arm 16 is provided with spaced ears 44 having oppositely-disposed apertures 45 therein arranged to be aligned with one of the apertures 12 in upright 10, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5. The spacing is such that pivot pin.18 which is mounted on the inner free end of spring 42 can be moved into and out of apertures 45 and aperture 12 when they are in alignment, for example, from the position illustrated in'Fig. to the position of Fig. 4..

Leaf spring 42 prior to its installation is also equipped intermediately with another pin 46 which, in the illustration given, is rotatable about its axis. The outer end of pin 46 is provided with a laterally-extending key 47. The oppositely-disposed openings 48 in the side walls of support arm 16 are preferably provided with laterally-extending aligned slots 49 so that the key portion 47 of pin 46 can be inserted and then quarterturned to lock it in position, thereby holding leaf spring 42 against the side of support arm 16, and the pin 13, held in place.

The uprights 10 whether they are attached to a wall, as is the case when they are formed into an island display unit as illustrated in Fig. l, or secured to the wall, are preferred to provide, braces therefor so that they canbe handled. as a. unit. In the illustration given, cross braces 13 are provided as illustrated in Fig. 1., The upper ends of braces; 13 arepivotally connected to 'C-shaped spring clamps 5,0" which in turn straddle the rear flanges of. the uprights 10, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1, thereby leaving the c-clamp free to shift slidably along the rear'fianges of support 10. With this arrangement a single person can set up a section of shelving merely by pushing or pulling the uprights apart sufficiently for the shelf attaching brackets 29 or 35 to. be correctly located, and locked with respect to the brackets, 16, after which the level of the shelves can be adjusted to. exact position by manipulation of the screws 22. If pitch of the shelves to the front or back is then desired the lock pins 18 on the braces 17 canbe adjusted to the proper height either before or after the shelves are attached; it being appreciated that the device can be shipped for rapid assembly with the brackets already attached to the uprights.

While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to specific embodiments thereof and many details have been set forth for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that the. invention as described herein is susceptible of other embodiments within the stated objects, and that many of the details can be varied widely without departing from the basic concepts of the inventioncom: mensurate with the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a shelving device, the combination of an up right, asupport arm pivotally mounted on said upright. and extending outwardly therefrom, said. support arm. having spaced walls providing an open-topped longi: tudinally-extending channel therebetween. the walls in the outer portion of said support arm having oppositelydisposed.longitudinally-extending slots, a brace pivotally mounted on said upright and extending upwardly to the outer portion of said support arm, the outer end of said brace providing spaced ears equipped with oppositely-disposed apertures alignable respectively with the slot on eachside ofsaid support arm, a pivot pin extending through said apertures and slots and interconnecting said support arm and brace, said pin being slidably received in said slots, whereby the inclination of said support arm canbe varied continuously by sliding said pin along said slots, and meansfor selectively adjusting the position of said pivot pin in said slots comprising a threaded pin extending radially through said pivot pin in threaded engagement therewith, the walls of said support arm adjacent the outer end of said pin being equipped with transverse slots extending downwardly from the top edge of said walls, a head member rotatably received in said slots and connected to the outer end of said threaded pin for rotation thereof, said head member extending outwardly beyond said slotstopermit it to be manually rotated while being restrained against longitudinal movement by engagement with the edges of said transverse slots.

2. In a shelving device, the combination of an upright, a support arm pivotally mounted on said upright and extending outwardly therefrom, a brace arm pivotally mounted on said upright below said support arm and extending upwardly to overlap an outer portion of said support arm, a pivot pin extending transversely through one of said arms and pivotally connecting the other arm thereto at the overlap, one of said arms having a shoulder and a longitudinally-extending slot slidably receiving said pin arranged-so that the inclination of said support can be variedby-sliding said-pin along said slot, and means for selectively adjusting the position of said pivot pin in said slot throughout. the entire length of said slot including an element engaging the pin arid movable about the axis of the pin for movement out of and into a working position within the confines of said arm having the slot therein and interengaging the shoulder and said pin in weight bearing relation.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which said element for selectively adjusting the position of said pivot pin in said slot comprises a threaded pin extending radially through said pivot pin in threaded engagement therewith, said threaded pin being mounted for rotational movement about its other axis in said working position while being held against longitudinal movement by said shoulder so that the rotation of said threaded pin causes said pivot pin to gradually shift its position in said slot, and means associated with said threaded pin to facilitate the rotation thereof disposed below the upper level of said support arm.

4. An adjustable shelf bracket, comprising an outwardly-extending support arm, means associated with the inner end of said arm for pivotally mounting said arm to swing in a vertical plane to positions of varying inclination, a brace for supporting said arm extending downwardly and inwardly from the outer end portion thereof, means associated with the inner end of said brace for pivotally mounting said brace to permit it to follow said arm in supporting relation therewith, a pivot pin radially pierced intermediate the ends by a threaded hole, said pin interconnecting the outer end portions of said brace and arm, one of said brace and arm members providing a longitudinally-extending slot slidably receiving said pivot pin and the other of said members providing an aperture pivotally receiving said pivot pin while holding said pin in a longitudinally-fixed position with respect to said other members so that the inclination of said arm can be varied continuously by sliding said pin along said slot, and screw means threadedly engaging said pin and interengaging said pin and said one of said members provided with said slot for selectively' adjusting the position of said pivot pin in said slot.

5. In a shelving device, the combination of an upright, a support arm pivotally mounted on said upright and extending outwardly therefrom, a brace arm pivotally mounted on said upright below said support arm and extending upwardly to overlap the outer portion of said support arm, a pivot pin extending transversely through one of the arms and pivotally connecting the other arm thereto at the overlap, said one arm having a longitudinally extending slot slidably receiving said pin arranged so that the inclination of said support arm can be varied by sliding said pin along said slot and also having a vertically opening slot spaced from the longitudinal slot, means for selectively adjusting the position of said pivot pin in said slot including a rotatable member engaging said pin and having a head received in said vertically opening slot, and means carried by one of said arms for closing said vertically opening slots to hold said head in place.

6. In a shelving device, the combination of an upright, a support arm pivotally mounted on said upright and extending outwardly the efrom and having an upwardly opening notch, a brace pivotally mounted on said upright below said support arm and extending upwardly to the outer portion of said support arm, a pivot pin extending transversely through the outer portion of said support and pivotally connecting said brace thereto, said support arm having a longitudinally extending slot slidably receiving said pin arranged so that the inclination of said support can be varied by sliding said pin along said slot, means for selectively adjusting the position of said pivot pin in said slot including an adjusting element engaging said pin and received in said notch to interconnect said pin and support arm in weight bearing relationship, a laterally extending flange on said support arm, a shelf member supported by said arm holding said element in said notch, said adjusting element being exposed for manual operation below said flange.

7. In a shelving device, the combination of an upright, a support arm pivotally mounted on said upright and extending outwardly therefrom, a brace arm pivotally mounted on said upright below said support arm and extending upwardly to overlap an outer portion of said support arm, a pivot pin extending transversely through one of said arms and pivotally connecting the other arm thereto at the overlap, one of said arms having a shoulder and a longitudinally-extending slot slidably receiving said pin arranged so that the inclination of said support can be varied by sliding said pin along said slot and means for selectively adjusting the position of said pivot pin in said slot throughout the entire length of said slot including an element disposed within the confines of said arm having the slot therein and interengaging the shoulder and said pin in weight bearing relation, said element comprising a threaded pin having a head on said pin for rotating said pin disposed below the upper level of said support arm, said support arm providing a verticallyextending slot receiving said head and holding said head by said shoulder and thereby said pin against longitudinal movement while permitting the rotating of said head therein, said head projecting beyond said support arm on each side thereof to permit said head to be grasped with the fingers for rotating said threaded pin and shelf means received on said support arm for holding said head in said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 745,873 Mancha Dec. 1, 1903 749,670 Gardner Jan. 12,1904 884,503 La Berge Apr. 14, 1908 951,134 Knape Mar. 8, 1910 1,371,256 Michaelson Mar. 15, 1921 1,502,288 Boye July 22, 1924 1,526,151 Kinney Feb. 10, 1925 1,855,964 Higginbotham Apr. 26, 1932 2,092,234 Van Wert Sept. 7, 1937 2,127,280 Zimbalist Aug. 16, 1938 2,453,254 Odin Nov. 9, 1948 2,644,591 McMahan July 7, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,476 Great Britain of 1914 

